Work holder



Nov. 10, 1953 D. M. CLEVELAND 23,732

\ WORK HOLDER Original Filed March 26, 1948 Z06, IN V EN TOR.

0 0/10 M C/eye/afld Reissued Nov. 10, 1953 WORK HOLDER Donald M.Cleveland, Geneva, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to SundstrandMachine Tool 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original No.2,593,538, dated April 22, 1952, Serial No. 17,300, March 26, 1948.

Application for reissue August 12, 1953, Serial No. 373,929

6 Claims. (01. 90-59) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: II appears inthe original patent but forms no part oi this reissue specification;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to improvements in work holders.

An object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficientwork holder or support which will be positioned automatically inengagement with the work by the release of a clamping means, said meansbeing employed for fixing the support in the adjusted position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an efficient workholder or support in which a work-engaging member, is movedautomatically into position with the work when a spring acting on thework-engaging member is released by a few turns on a nut, said nut beingemployed for fixing the work-engaging member in its automaticallyadjusted position, said member being shifted by a piston reciprocated ina barrel with cooperating means on the piston and barrel for preventingthe piston from being discharged from the barrel.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my support.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the support taken along the line 2-2of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a side view in elevation of the support shown in operativerelation with a piece of work.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of an extension which isapplied to the support.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in sectionshowing a modified form of a work engaging member, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal section of another form of the support.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, In designates abase member adapted to be attached to or mounted on a surface or afixture of a milling or a vertical boring machine or other machines inwhich it is necessary to employ a support under the work to prevent thework from springing away from the tools. A post or housing formedintegrally with the base has a vertical passage l2 extending through thepost. The lower end of said passage is threaded to receive a plug l3.Said post is rectangular in cross section. The top of the post and inembracing relation with the passage I2 is provided with a. countersunkrecess M for the 2 reception of a steel washer l5 and a felt washer it.A plate or cap I! is secured to the top of the post and has a centralpassage in alignment with the passage I2. These washers have a flat sideto fit the flat side 2| of the piston or bar.

A piston or bar 20 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in post II.A flat portion 2| extends for a portion of the length of the piston.Said fiat portion has a taper of .005 of an inch for each inch oflength. This taper counteracts any tendency for the piston to slip whena pull is exerted thereon. A stop flange 22 at the lower end of thepiston prevents the piston from being discharged from the passage 12. Astud 23 is threaded into a pocket in the upper end of the piston and isused for applying work engaging members to said piston. The outer end ofthe stud is provided with a socket 23a adapted to be engaged by asuitable tool for turning the stud. A coil spring 24 is located in thepassage I2 between the lower end of the piston 20 and the plug 3 andtends to force the piston upwardly at all times in the post.

A wedge 25 in the shape of a round rod is mounted in a passage 26located transversely of the post Said passage opens into the verticalpassage l2 so that a fiat portion 21 of the wedge will be in engagementwith the fiat portion 2| of the piston 20.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that an edge of the fiat portion 21 ofthe Wedge 25 will be contacted by the flange 22 on the lower end of thepiston 20 and will prevent the spring 24 from ejecting the piston fromthe passage I 2. A hexagonal nut 30 is threaded into the outerprojecting end of the wedge 25 for drawing said wedge up tight on thepiston 20. The not may be rotated by the usual wrench or by an Allenwrench which is applied to a socket 3|.

A knurled connector 33 has a threaded socket 34 to receive theprojecting end of the stud 23. A pin 35 extends upwardly from theconnector and is received by a passage 35 in a saddle 31 provided with aV'-shaped notch 38. The notch is particularly adapted to receive a pieceof work 39 which is circular in cross section.

In Figure 5 is shown an extension 4|! which may be applied to the stud23 and which is employed to support work at a higher elevation. A'second threaded stud 4| projects vertically from the upper end of theextension. A knurled cap 42 is mounted on said stud.

In Figure 6, another form of work-engaging member is disclosed for usedwith flat work. The threaded stud 23 or the piston 20 receives aconnector 43 which has a universal socket 44 receiving a ball 45. Ashank 46 rises from the ball and ca'rriesfa "plate 41 for supporting thework. H

In Figure 7 is shown a modified form or wedge or clamping element andthe associated piston. All the other elements, however, are identical inconstruction *with similarly placed elements'illustrated in Figures 1 to4 inclusive and therefore the same reference numerals will be applied.In this form, the clamping element =or 'rdd 50 is circular in crosssection and has an arcuately shaped notch 5|, receiving the .piston 20a.The lower end of said piston is provided with a circular flange 52 whichwill be engaged by the member 50 to prevent accidental ejectionpf thepiston by the spring. The nut 30 drawnsthe member 50 up tight on'thepiston for fixing the piston in position against the tension of thespring.

Theoperation of the support and "its applicationto a piece of workissimple. After-the base has been applied-suitably to a machine-andafterthe piston or-20a has-beendepressed and .secured in place by themember or 50, the

proper work-engaging -memberis-applied to the upper end ofthe piston.With the work in place, the nut i'sre'leasedto permit the spring 24 toraise-the piston'and position the work-engaging member in-contact withthe work. The nut 30 is-then' drawn up taut for-retaining the piston inits elevatedposition.

After the-operations on the work have been completed, the nut 30 isreleased. Downward pressure on the work-en'gaging'member willlowerthepiston after which the nut 30 is drawn up taut'for-holding'thepiston in an inoperative position.

The -washer IS in co-operation with the felt washer *lBprevents filingor other fine metaliparticles from reaching the interior of the hollowpost I. Theplate l1 maintains-the washers in place when the piston 20 isreciprocated inthe passage 12in thepost.

No washersare employed in=Figure 7 inconnection with the piston 20a.Said piston may bemachined to provide a close fi-tin the passage [-2 sothat metal particles cannotenter the passage.

What I claim is:

L-Awork support comprising apost havinga longitudinal bore extendingthrough one end of the post, a substantially vertical reciprocatorybarm'ounted-withinthebore of the: post and having one-end-exposed beyondsaid end of the post, work engaging means carried by said one end 01'the 'bar, a spring mounted within the bore of the/postand engaging theotherend of said bar and urging said bar out of said oneend of the post,theupright post being provided with atranverse bore 'intersectingthe-bore of the post, a transverse locking rod slidably mounted withinthetransverse bore of thepost and extending laterally beyondoppositesides of thebar, the locking rodbeing provided inits side with arecess receiving the bar-and defining a clamping surface, one endof thelocking rod extending laterally'outwardly beyond one side of the .postand beingscrew-threaded, and a nut mounted upon the screw-threaded endof the locking rod and tuinable -for drawing the locking rod axially ina direction to clamp the barbetween'the clamping "surface oftherecessand the bore of the EportII WSt. v

in eombinationia-pcst having a longitudinal bore extending through oneend thereof, a reciprocatory bar slidably mounted in the bore and baroutwardly of said one end of the post, said barbeing formed in its sidewith a longitudinally I extending flat face arranged at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the bar and diverging toward-said one'end of thebar, the post being formed with' 'a transverse [bar] bore intersectingthe longitudinal bore of the post, a locking rod slidably mounted-in thetransverse bore and extending crosswise 0f the reciprocatory bar, saidlocking rod being formed with a longitudinally extending flat faceengaging the flat face of the bar, the flat face of -theiockingmod-beingarranged at an-angle to ;the longitudinal axis of the locking rod, saidrod'having a threaded end extending beyond the side of the post, and anut threaded on said threaded-end of the-locking rod, said nut beingrotatable on said threaded-(indie bear against .a portion on the postandmovesaid plunger rod endwise in the transverse bore so as to wedge saidbar between the longitudinal bore of the-post and the-flat face ofthe-locking rod and thereby lockthe bar-in .aselectedlomgitudinalposition.

3. In combination, aipost havingua longitudinal bore extending throughone end -there0f,=a reciprocatorg bar slidablg mounted 'inthe-boremndhaving oneend exposed beyond-said one end-of theposta spring mounted-insaid'bore andwngaging the other end of the=barand urging-saidbaroutwardly'of said one end-of the post, :said

bar being formedin its :side' with'a lmigitudinalig extendingflatrfacenarrangednt an angle to the longitudinal aa'is of the' bar'and'divergingtowat d said one 'end of th'e'ban 'the "postbeingiformedwith a transverse bore intersecting the ilongi tudinul bore of the post,a locking rod sliddbly mounted in the transverse bore and mummycrosswise of the "reciprocatory' b'a 'r, said rod being formed with alongitudinally extending flat face engaging the fiat jace of the ban theflat face of the locking rod'being arrangedat an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the lookingrod, and means for nicruing s'aidlocking rod endwise in the transverse bore to 1 wedge -'saz'd bar=bet'ween the longitudinal bore of the post and "the iat face of thelocking 'rod 'a nd thereby lolc the bar in a selected extended position.

4. A worlc suppor t comprising: an=uprtght post having a longitudinalbore extending through oneend of 'saidpost and a trdnsvers'e boreintersecting saidflongitudinal -'bore'; "an elongated var rnountedwithin said longitudinal bore andheumg one end e'rtendinfb'egond saidend"of the post, said one end being pro'uided'w'ith "a work engagingmembe'n-a' spring mounted within the longitudinal bore and engaging theother' end a; said barnor'mallyto urge theba'r 'outwardlg'o! the post; arod s'lida'bly within the transverse bore and ertendingla'te'rallg'begondthe sides of the elongate'd bar; a pairofffl'atndacting wedging' surfaces, the first'wedging surface ljeingformed longitudinally ofsaid'ba'r and'at'an'ang'le to the amisof saidbar-"divergingtowardsaid one end of the 'bar, and the second surface"being formed longitudinally of 'saia'rodandat anangle to the axis of'said' 'rod 'so" that endwise movement of said r'o'cl toward said ba'rbrings sum -"seconid surface tnto "engagement with said first surface towedge said bar between the' second suffaee and the longitudinal bore ofthemost; an'd means for providing endwise movement of said rod to wedgesaid bar in a selected extended position.

5. A work support comprising: a housing having a longitudinal boreintersected by a transverse bore; an elongated bar mounted forreciprocable movement in said longitudinal bore and having an endprovided with a work engaging member; first means urging said baroutwardly of the house; a rod slidably mounted in said transverse boreand intersecting said elongated bar; a pair of co-acting wedgingsurfaces, the first of said wedging surfaces being formed in a side ofthe bar at an angle diverging from the axis of said bar, and the secondof said wedging surfaces being formed in a side of said rod at an anglediverging from the axis of said rod so that the surfaces may be broughtinto wedging engagement by endwise movement of said rod; and means formoving said rod endwise in the transverse bore to wedge said bar betweenthe longitudinal bore of the housing and the second wedging swrface.

6. A work support comprising: an upright post having a longitudinal boreextending through one end of said post and a transverse boreinterseating said longitudinal bore; an elongated bar mounted withinsaid longitudinal bore and having an end extending beyond said end ofthe post, said end being provided with a work engaging member; a springmounted within the longitudinal bore and engaging the other end of saidbar normally to urge the bar outwardly of the post; a locking rodslidably mounted in said transverse bore of the post, said rod having acurved recess in its side defining a clamping surface adapted to engagethe lateral surface of said bar; and means for moving said rod endwisein the transverse bore to draw said clamping surface tightly againstsaid lateral surface to clamp said bar between the clamping surface andthe post.

DONALD M. CLEVELAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original lpatenltUNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,782,660 Meyer Nov. 25, 19301,890,423 Teagarden Dec. 6, 1932 2,243,905 Hubschneider June 3, 19412,424,090 Gardinier July 15, 1947

